Lesson Plan
Lesson 8: Exploring Plants
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate the importance of natural vegetation to animals and people.
Lesson Plan
Tuning In
- Students watch and listen to the Introduction to Plants video on YouTube. At the end of the video, ask the students:
- Why do you think plants are so important for all life on Earth?
- What similarities and differences could you see between the kinds of plants shown in the video?
- What do plants provide for living things?
Teacher Instruction
- Display slides 5-13 of the Exploring Plants PowerPoint. As a class, discuss and record on the board:
- the observations made for slides 6-9
- the plant characteristics for slides 10-11
- the benefits and classifications for the plants on slide 13.
Guided/Independent Learning
- Read through the independent activity on slide 14. Ask the students to think of a plant they know, then create a narrative based on one day in that plant’s life. Before writing, they should:
- identify the characteristics of their plant and the benefits it provides to living things
- think carefully about what they would see, hear, taste, touch and smell as their plant
- decide how to present their narrative e.g. journal, diary entry, letter, story.
- Monitor and support the students as they write their narratives. Provide regular reminders as to how much time the students have remaining to complete their work.
Wrapping Up
- Once the students have finished, gather together as a class. Encourage more confident students share their narratives with their peers.
Differentiation
Extending Students
- Encourage more capable students to include relationships between their plant and other living things as a part of their narrative.
Supporting Students
- Provide specific examples of plants to choose from for students who are finding the writing activity challenging.
Assessment Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
- used strategic whole class or individual questioning
- observed student participation during learning activities
- recorded student progress on a checklist
- annotated student work samples
- collected and reviewed student work samples
- facilitated whole class or peer feedback sessions
- encouraged student self-reflection
- administered formal assessment tasks.
NSW Curriculum alignment
- GE2-1
Examines features and characteristics of places and environments
- ST2-5LW-T
Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter
- ST2-5LW-T
Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter
Victorian Curriculum alignment
- VCGGK077
Location of major countries of Africa and South America in relation to Australia and their major characteristics including the types of vegetation and native animals in at least two countries for both...
- VCGGK077
Location of major countries of Africa and South America in relation to Australia and their major characteristics including the types of vegetation and native animals in at least two countries for both...
Australian Curriculum alignment
- ACSIS071
Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations
- ACHASSI082
Present ideas, findings and conclusions in texts and modes that incorporate digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms
- ACSSU073
Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive
- ACHASSK088
The importance of environments, including natural vegetation, to animals and people
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